INDEPENDENCE — Travis Dale Coulson, indicted earlier this year on multiple charges involving a car chase in Galax — which caused another driver to crash through a house — was found guilty in Grayson County Circuit Court for aggravated malicious wounding and destruction of property.

INDEPENDENCE — An Independence man was recently arrested on various charges, following a vehicle pursuit that ended on foot after the driver reportedly drove through a metal gate into a river lot, according to a report from the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office.

Jason Scott Cornett, 34, of 4721 Pleasant Grove Road in Independence, has been charged with felony DUI (third offense in less than 10 years), felony attempt to elude law enforcement, reckless driving and a hit-and-run.

INDEPENDENCE — Six out of the seven Grayson County schools received full accreditation this year; but that could change pending the results of an appeal regarding the seventh school, which fell just a few students shy of full accreditation.

Schools Superintendent Kelly Wilmore confirmed that the county would seek to appeal the state’s decision to only partially accredit Fries School, where science test score dipped. Only 22 students took the test.

Chapters Bookshop, located in downtown Galax, is a winner of the national 2017 Children’s Book Week Contest.

In celebration of the 98th anniversary of Children’s Book Week, 705 libraries, schools and bookstores were invited in May to enter a national display contest around the theme of “One World, Many Stories.”

FRIES — When Sgt. Doug Carner, Internet Crimes Against Children investigator for the Grayson County Sheriff’s Office, arrived at Fries Town Council last week, he explained that his purple shirt signified domestic violence awareness.

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, but for Carner it’s a year-round focus of his job — an area of law enforcement that he feels should be improved.

New optical scan voting machines are in place to be used in all Galax elections, with a free public demonstration so voters can see the machines beforehand.

The demonstrations will be held Oct. 14 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and Oct. 17 from 6-9 p.m. in the Galax City Council chambers. Voters will not need to bring ID or voter registrations cards as these events are purely to demonstrate how the new system works.